Esters occur when acid and alcohol molecules bond together. This bond creates chemicals that are gentle on the skin and have balancing energetics. Aromatically, they are often flowery and/or fruity middle notes, and their shelf life is usually 3 - 5 years.
Essential oils that are ester-rich are generally soothing, uplifting, and sedative. They can help balance your body during times of high stress. Several can relieve pain and inflammation. They are great on skin irritations like bites, stings, rashes, and skin conditions, and some can even help improve digestion. Overall, essential oils high in esters are safe to use, but there are some precautions that need to be taken into consideration. * The acid-alcohol bonds can be broken if the essential oil is stored improperly (i.e. in a hot, humid area like a bathroom), therefore, store these oils in a cool, dry area. * Wintergreen and Birch Essential Oils have an ester - methyl salicylate - in very high levels. [This chemical is the plant remedy used before aspirin, and is the inspiration behind the creation of aspirin (aspirin = acetyl salicylate).] These oils need to be used by adults only and in low dilutions for limited time periods. This chemical constituent is not easily processed by the human liver and can reach toxic levels if used improperly. See the datasheets in the membership section for more information. If you are allergic to aspirin, do not use Wintergreen or Birch essential oils. Like monoterpenols, sesquiterpenols are alcohols and have the -ol- suffix. They have a backbone of 15 carbon atoms (instead of 10) and a hydroxyl group (an oxygen-hydrogen pair) attached to the molecule. This has an effect on their therapeutic properties, size, and longevity.
Because they are alcohols, sesquiterpenes tend to be antibacterial, immune stimulants, cooling, antispasmodic, and sedative. Oils high in sesquiterpenes are good in deodorants, lotions, blends for skin irritations, and diffuser blends for sleep or to ease breathing. The 15 carbon backbone makes the molecules larger and heavier. These larger molecules deepen the aroma to middle-base and base notes which last longer (as opposed to evaporating quickly). These deeper notes offer grounding and calming energetics to a blend. The larger molecules also absorb more slowly, which means they have a longer time to impart their therapeutic properties to the skin, and they give a longer shelf life to essential oils rich in these chemicals - about 6 - 8 years (or longer). While sesquiterpenes are found in many essential oils, only a few oils are sesquiterpenol-rich. They include Cedarwood, Myrrh, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Vetiver. Similar to monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes are terpenes, which means the molecules consist of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. (By now, you'll notice that terpenes have an -ene- suffix.) These molecules are larger and heavier than monoterpenes because they have a skeleton of 15 carbons. As a result, they evaporate more slowly and tend to have deeper, richer, more enduring aromas. A few of my favorites are Beta-caryophyllene, Alpha-humulene, Zingiberene, and Alpha-curcumene.
While there are some common therapeutic properties in oils that have high levels of sesquiterpenes, there are differences as well. Those common properties include grounding, antiseptic, antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic. However, in this category, individual oils must be studied for their positive effects because some are sedative, some can help lower blood pressure, some are skin-healing, and some are cooling while others are warming. Many sesquiterpene-rich oils are gentle on the skin, but some can irritate the skin if they have oxidized. Monoterpenols are a family of chemicals with 10 carbon molecules that have a functional oxygen-hydrogen group attached. (I know, chemistry -- or, yay! chemistry!) The -ol- suffix indicates that monoterpenols are alcohols. Most of the chemicals in this family have the -ol- suffix: i.e. Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, and Menthol. Consider the effects that small to moderate amounts of alcohol have on the body -- try to list some. See how many of yours match mine.
Relaxing, disinfecting, sedative, calming, antispasmodic, antianxiety, cooling All of these are therapeutic properties found in monoterpenols. It gets better though, because monoterpenols have even more benefits. The majority tend to be anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, deodorizing, most are skin-friendly, some are neuroprotective, and many stimulate the immune system. While most monoterpenol-rich essential oils are safe, those high in geraniol may be mild skin sensitizers, so the recommended maximum level for dermal application is 5.3%. There is one monoterpenol that is very popular, but comes with precautions -- Menthol. We find a high level of menthol in Cornmint and Peppermint essential oils. Rather than being sedating, menthol is stimulating - it'll wake you up and help you focus. Applied topically, its cooling sensation makes a good analgesic, but it can be harsh on skin and mucous membrane cells, so it's best used in smaller dilutions. More significantly, it needs to be kept away from the faces of children from newborn to age 5 as it can cause breathing problems. People with G6PD deficiency need to avoid menthol because their bodies cannot metabolize it. |
DisclaimerThe information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Archives
February 2021
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